‘Determination, Dedication And Discipline Are The Three Essentials For Success’

Winner of the Editor’s Choice Award, Vithal Kamat, chairman and managing director, The Orchid - An Ecotel Hotel in conversation with Charmaine Fernz talks about the company’s future plans

What does the award mean to you?

The award means a lot to the entire Orchid Group. Reminiscing the past, when we first started and came about with the concept of an ‘eco-hotel’- it was considered to be an ‘economic hotel’ and we did not get the required response. To the extent that some of our competitors even did not feel that the concept would work. However what worked in our favour was the implicit faith that we had in the concept. And it is awards such as the Galileo-Express Travel & Tourism that reinstate our faith in the eco-concept. This award is also for all our team members, staff, directors, customers and most of all our share holders.

What according to you was the secret to your success?

It is essentially the three Ds - Determination, Dedication and Discipline. These values were inculcated by my father Venkatesh Kamat, which, when implemented in the right manner certainly made our destiny. From just a dishwasher to a chairman emeritus of the Orchid Group, it is my father’s honesty and hardwork that has given him all this success.

Our hotel has had good business and we have the highest GOP (Gross Operating Profit) in Mumbai, we use 14 per cent less heat and light as compared to any other hotel. This instills more faith in our guests who completely believe in the eco-concept. It is with these objectives that we feel that the sky is the limit for any success in life.

How do you plan to retain this success?

We believe that whenever one is successful in life it is to be shared and we imbibe this in our workings at the Orchid. Our success is shared with all the people who have made us what we are today. Just six years ago, we had gone through a rough period but have overcome that phase. According to us, success should be digested well and one should be more humble as they climb life’s success ladder. We are also proud of the fact that through the introduction of our concept we have injected other properties in the industry to follow suit and get more eco-friendly.

What are your future plans?

We have three more properties in the pipe line. One is in Kolkata which is a floatel, the other one is a property in Doha and last but not the least, setting up another hotel in Mumbai. I would like to conclude by saying that we have the highest environmental hotel awards amounting to 37 in all.